100 people still at Escalante evacuation center

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 27, 2024): 100 people still at Escalante evacuation center (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

Several days after the successive encounters between government forces and remnants of the New People’s Army, about 100 individuals have preferred to stay at the evacuation center in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, disclosed yesterday by Army spokesman Lt. Col. J Jay Javines.

Javines said that pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels are still underway, as of this time, while the encounter sites have already been declared “cleared,” with no sightings of rebel remnants reported.

He added that the remaining displaced residents may now return to their respective homes, as he advised them to seek coordination with the 79th Infantry Battalion.

About 160 families, composed of 600 individuals, from the hinterlands of Escalante City and Toboso, who were among those temporarily displaced by the series of encounters between government forces and New People’s Army rebels, returned to their respective homes on February 23.

The Philippine Army logged eight encounters between remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, on Feb. 21 and 22, which claimed the lives of three NPA rebels and injured three Army soldiers and a government militiaman.

An airstrike was also conducted by the Philippine Air Force on Feb. 22, to support the 79IB in the conduct of pursuit operations against the NPA rebels who had occupied an advantageous position during the series of encounters.

Javines belied reports of unexploded ordnance in the area, as he clarified that the Air Force attack gunships fired rockets at the rebel stronghold, and not bombs, contrary to reports in the media.*

https://visayandailystar.com/100-people-still-at-escalante-evacuation-center/